What's it like to be a full-time mother, full-time high school English teacher, part-time college English instructor, part time graduate student and still find time to train? My goal is to qualify for Western States someday. Stay tuned ....

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Missing my Runs

I hit Day 45 today in the 60-Day Bikram Yoga Challenge. I have to say that my balance, core, posture and strength have improved DRAMATICALLY. It simply amazes me how we can transform our bodies with just a little dose of determination and persistence. It certainly pays off! Postures that I was previsouly having issues with are now some of my favorite postures. Namely TRIANGLE, which previously always seemed to knock me to my knees and I'd end up sitting out the during the second rep. Not anymore!! My hamstrings have become incredibly stronger as have my hips, quads and glutes;and my flexibility has improved quite a bit. I cannot wait to see the results at the end of the 60 days. My daughter is doing the challenge along with me and is doing fantastic despite this being her first challenge. She's already lost 10 LBS and has gained a TON of flexibility. All this yoga has also done wonders for my running as a way of cross-training and building stamina.

Both of us however, have been craving a nice long run and we are looking forward to getting back to our running routine, so last Sunday I hooked up with my Commando Weeples Team from the Ragnar Relay we're running in September and ran a 10K in Concord put on by RoadRunner Sports. Simply AMAZING! I started out a bit stiff from not running for over a week and half, but surprisingly I felt light on my feet after about the second mile. Best 10K I've done in a LONG time! Finished in 1:02 and felt AMAZING!!!
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Commando Weeples Team﻿

﻿﻿﻿ As soon as theYoga Challenge is over, the official training for Ragnar and Tough Mudder will begin. I see RUNNING in my future. :)

Thank you Devon! As you can see I am not so on top of this whole "blogging thing." LOL... I've been blogging since 2006 but they are very sporadic. I checked out your blog as well and now I just have to find the time to read them... :) Keep it up girl!!!

Rachel

About Me

----I can honestly say that I am happy where I am today and very,very content to be in the place that I am in right now. This is probably the happiest I have been in years.
I am a divorced mother of two, and I am first and foremost a mother to my two beautiful daughters. Secondly, I am a runner (www.facebook.com/lifeinthedayofarunner)with the objective of running the American River 50, the Western 100 and maybe someday a Half Ironman and if I'm still kickin' then maybe someday a full Ironman. Thirdly, I am an English teacher. I love my job and get a lot of satisfaction from what I do. I have an amazing job teaching high school English and in the evenings, teaching English at the local Community College. Both are equally challenging and inspiring and I receive a lot of satisfaction from both. Lastly, I am a warrior, waging a war against the invisible enemy that attempts to destroy my body with rheumatoid arthritis. In my spare time(I know... there isn't much left), I run and train for races by logging miles in town or by going up to the hills and training there. I am a survivor...